Letters to the Editor as a Tool of Citizenship

摘要: This chapter presents findings from a comparative study of range UK based newspapers the nineteenth century. It examines ways in which practice letter writing to national supported development citizenship as an extensive and multi-faceted project. Arguing against more restrictive versions operationalised Habermassian ideals public sphere, this contends that much can be gained applying wider ideas nature citizen are emergent analyses contemporary reader participation. nineteenth-century readers understood letters forms power implied this, going on look at how writers ‘performed’ citizenship. Finally, it considers manner made ‘personal’ into ‘political’ constituted issues. In so doing, challenges idea Letters Editor should primarily considered adjunct editorial policy, or responses already pre-constituted Rather, allow us trace issues become politicised. is respect engaged with being state was becoming intimately entwined their lives also, by contrast, increasingly remote. Against background, provided resource for individuals re-developing sense themselves citizens, engaging new mediated empowerment.